The McClatchy Co.’s newspaper sites are notifying registered users of a service agreement change that hints at coming charges for content.
McClatchy Watch posted an item about the e-mail and the vague language in the Terms of Service at the publisher’s sites on Tuesday, and Editor & Publisher’s Fitz & Jen blog took a look at it Wednesday.
Says Fitz & Jen: “Christian Hendricks, McClatchy’s vice president of interactive media, cautioned not to read too much into it. The notifications went out with such language so they don’t have to keep pinging readers about service updates. McClatchy, he said, has not made any decisions on whether to charge for content (or some content.) ‘Nothing is imminent. We are studying it like everybody else.’”
The new pertinent language, as spelled out on Raleigh’s newsobserver.com under Cost says, “From time to time, and at NewsObserver.com’s sole discretion, there may be certain content available via subscription or surcharge, and such content will be clearly marked.” The site adds, “Note that currently most news articles remain available for 30 days in the pages of NewsObserver.com. The News & Observer’s electronic archives may carry a fee per full-text article downloaded.”
Tags: revenue